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Research Question:
Should gene therapy be used to treat hemophilia B compared to other treatments?
Hypothesis:
Gene therapy increases the chances of curing hemophilia B more than other treatments.
Background/History of the Issue:
Gene therapy, first introduced in the 1960s, has been a controversial form of treatment for some
time. Many studies have experimented with it, but so far it hasnt been definitively proven a safe
and effective treatment. Gene therapy is an experimental technique of utilizing DNA to combat
defective and diseased genes. It can be done via an injection or an IV. To inject the gene
treatment into the patient, the gene is first often carried in viruses, so that they can be delivered
to the cell through infection. Gene therapy also carries implications for genetic modification, as
genes can be inserted to zygotes as well as somatic cells, which would lead to designed traits in
offspring. This heavy societal implication has delayed more exploration on the subject, but
progress is still continuing and many studies have been made experimenting on the possible
successful cures this treatment technique can provide. These studies have mostly been conducted
on genetic diseases, but experiments on how scientists are also studying how this technique
could affect cancer cells.
Rationale:
I believe this is an important topic because if gene therapy works correctly, it will signify
enormous scientific and technological advancements for contemporary society. The implications
of this would change methods of scientific research and impact the world as it progresses. By
focusing on hemophilia B, I can explore the effect it specifically has on genetic diseases.
Hemophilia B treatments
Effects of gene therapy